Boston Among 74 School Districts To Request Waiver To Delay In-Person Learning
BOSTON (CBS) – The superintendent of Boston Public Schools wants to delay the return of full-time in-person learning until the end of April. The district filed a waiver Monday to delay the start for students in grades K-8 until Monday, April 26, which is three weeks after the state's deadline.
Boston was one of 74 schools that requested waivers for elementary students. Of that, 58 have been approved, six have been denied because their plans included either remaining hybrid or keeping a fully remote day through the end of the year. Ten waivers, including Boston and Worcester, are still being reviewed.
In a letter to State Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley obtained by the Boston Globe, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said the delay would give them more time to prepare school buildings and make sure "most" of the teachers and staff are vaccinated.
Elementary schools in Massachusetts will be required to have "full-time, in-person instruction five days per week" starting Monday, April 5. Middle schools will have to do the same by Wednesday, April 28. A date has not been set yet for high schools.
The deadline for elementary school waivers was Monday. The deadline for middle school waivers is April 12.